Robinson looking for team effort
England captain Jason Robinson has urged a collective effort from his team in Saturday’s first Test against the Springboks – and not rely on fly-half Jonny Wilkinson repeating his Bloemfontein heroics of seven years ago.
Wilkinson guided England to a famous victory in June 2000, kicking all 27 points as they began a trend of regular victories over the southern hemisphere heavyweights under Clive Woodward’s coaching regime.
The Newcastle fly-half is once again pivotal to English hopes this weekend, albeit in completely different circumstances.
Wilkinson and skipper Robinson have collected more than half the total number of caps a rookie England team will take with them into battle at Vodacom Park – 172, compared with South Africa’s 418.
And while the World Cup-winning pair’s experience will be vital to England’s cause, it is an occasion when every player must hit peak performance levels, otherwise South Africa could run riot.
“One man doesn’t make a team. Jonny obviously gives us a lot, but it is for the rest of the guys to stand up and take responsibility for their roles,” said Robinson.
“This has got to be a collective effort. We can’t just think that Jonny, with his boot and skills he brings to the table, is going to win us this game on his own.
“You have got guys who are taking responsibility. You have got your Jonny Wilkinson’s and your Mark Regan’s, guys who have been around the block and know what it is about.”
Having already retired from club rugby following an illustrious stint with last season’s Guinness Premiership champions Sale Sharks, Robinson’s Test career has a maximum of five months to run.
He will call time once England’s World Cup campaign ends in France later this year, but there is still unfinished business, such as a first international appearance against the Springboks on South African soil.
“For me, any game could be my last game, so I want to make sure I play the best I can possibly play for England during this short period of time,” added Robinson.
“It is an exciting time for me, and I am glad it will work out this way. It would be nice to finish playing at the highest level playing for England.
“It is an honour and a privilege to captain this team, and I feel we have some great players. There is some good young talent, and hopefully that will come through on Saturday.
“I am really looking forward to it. For me, throughout my career I have always wanted to play against the best players in the world, and South Africa have got some of the best players in the world.
“The challenge is there, and it is for us to rise to that challenge and meet it head-on.”
Robinson has not played since April 13, having bowed out of the domestic game by making a typical match-winning contribution when Sale beat Bath at Edgeley Park, but his appetite and enthusiasm remains as he embarks on the home straight after dazzling crowds in both rugby codes for 15 years.
He knows England are up against it, both tomorrow and in Pretoria next week, yet Robinson’s belief will not allow him to accept the tourists could prove little more than cannon-fodder for the Springboks.
“The reality is we are underdogs, there is no doubt about it, but we have got a group of guys here who have been given the opportunity to play at this level,” said Robinson.
“We are looking forward to the challenge, and we will just have to see how Saturday goes. There is a lot of enthusiasm there from the guys, and hopefully we will see a few players emerge from it with a lot of credibility.
“It is going to be a very physical game. They are going to look to try and dominate us in that area. They’ve got some great players – plenty of speed and a very tough pack – and we know what they are capable of.
“The main thing for us is what we do. We can’t just let them take the game to us. We’ve got to meet them head-on in every area.
“We’ve not had a lot of time to prepare, we are at altitude and there are lots of things going against us, but that is what this level of sport is all about – challenges, and standing up to those challenges.”
